Jeff Samardzija will pitch Friday for the Cubs and Edwin Jackson goes Saturday in Milwaukee, where the Cubs begin a 10-game road trip.

Villanueva hopes to stop Chicago's skid. The Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have been stung by a bullpen that's blown four of its seven save opportunities.

Defensively, the Cubs have also struggled. The 11 errors they've committed were tied for third-most in the majors.

None of this has been helped by the raw weather at Wrigley Field. The game-time temperature Tuesday night was 39 degrees with the wind blowing in off nearby Lake Michigan.

"This has probably been a little exceptional as far as not being able to get on the field, and then when we've been on the field it's been pretty miserable work conditions, too," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said it was worse than the conditions he's endured across town at U.S. Cellular Field, where the White Sox play.